Croatia Differently? A Week Aboard a Sailboat

sailing, sailboat, boat, Croatia, travel — photo by unsacsurledos.com

The Mediterranean captivates travelers from around the world with its beaches and landscapes. And while Croatia may not be the first country that comes to mind, it is nevertheless a prime destination to embark on a new mode of travel: by boat.

It has never been easier to step off the beaten path, as here, there are no trails: it's up to you to chart your course!

For sea lovers who may not know it yet and novice sailors, we have tested the perfect solution: a week on board a sailing yacht from the Naleia fleet.

Traveling with Naleia, a whole philosophy...

The Origin of the Concept

With bright blue eyes and a dreamy look, Dominik talks to us about his life change and his project. His baby: Naleia.

Like many others, Dominik realized that money does not bring happiness and that a well-filled bank account does not equate to a successful life. He has been working on this project for three years, and this year, he fully committed to this adventure, leaving the security of a steady job to realize his dream.

And what a beautiful dream!

>

Many people love sailing, but very few own a boat or have enough friends to rent one. From this realization, Dominik decided to launch a sort of > to bring together sailing enthusiasts, regardless of their level.

The Name

means: it's a shortened version of a Hawaiian name, Naleialoha, which signifies >. According to name studies, bearers of the sweet name > have a deep desire for travel and adventure, as well as a strong sense of community, harmony, and peace. They display emotional balance and are reliable individuals.

Ultimately, Naleia embodies that feeling one experiences when they stop worrying about the past or the future to be at peace, content in the present.

All these good omens behind this name ultimately convinced Dominik: Naleia was born!

The Philosophy

Naleia is a non-profit sailing travel agency aimed at making travel and discovering the world accessible.

Their motto:

Discovering the world through sport. Developing through travel.

This journey aims to be primarily a collective adventure: travelers experience and build it together. No rigid schedule: the sailing boat progresses according to the weather and the crew's desires. No service on board: everyone participates, whether it's for shopping, dishwashing, cooking, or hoisting the mainsail.

No level of skill is required to embark, and on-site, the skipper offers to give theoretical and practical lessons to interested parties.

The idea behind Naleia is to encourage sharing a common experience through sailing, meeting new friends, discovering other cultures, learning to sail on a yacht, experiencing a country... and having a good time together under the sun!

Discovering the world through sport. Developing through travel.

Croatia: 7 Days at Sea

A true vacation...

Long-distance travel is not the same as going on vacation for a week. While I am an unconditional fan of the former type of getaway... God knows it's good sometimes to be on vacation!

Sleeping every day in the same bed, waking up without an alarm, just taking it easy... A whole different rhythm than that of our travels during our project >. It was only after spending the first night on board that I realized how much I needed this. A true vacation!

One where you live by the rhythm of the sun and pre-dinner drinks, with those sweet moments where you do nothing... A week of total relaxation where, I confess, I have hardly read or written (which happens very rarely). I return refreshed and thirsty for books and a desire to write.

How Do We Live on a Sailboat?

I already talked about this in the article >. For this trip, we were on board a Bavaria 47 Cruiser, a truly beautiful boat! And, to top it off, we had the cabin at the front: the best room we have had on a sailing boat so far!

Life on a boat depends on its crew. A human group where one must learn to find their place... While some are more shy in the first days, these reservations quickly fade away, and a great camaraderie sets in. Personalities reveal themselves and the puzzle fits together: living together, when each person respects themselves and respects others, is not so difficult after all!

The participative philosophy of this type of vacation requires personal engagement in daily tasks: preparing meals, setting the table, doing the dishes... But these little rituals will be quickly adopted, with the crew functioning like the gears of a well-oiled machine by the end of the trip.

But a boat is not just a house: it's a mobile home! The skipper is responsible for getting us to port safely and involving us... according to our wishes. This is an opportunity for us to dust off our theoretical lessons and put them into practice.

In addition to handling the maneuvers, I reserved some little moments for myself when we navigated. I would sneak up to the front of the boat to occupy > and keep an eye on the sea. No one in sight, except for a few tight sails or some suggestive round islands. I can spend hours contemplating the blue of the sea, watching for dolphins appearing far off.

And outside of sailing time, the boat stops every day in beautiful coves or small ports to spend the night sheltered. An opportunity to swim, sunbathe, read, hike, or simply fall!

Our Itinerary: The 250 Islands

On the agenda for the week: the >, a well-chosen name for this region populated by countless islands, some not exceeding 2 minutes 2 seconds. We departed from the port of Biograd and ended our cruise in Trogir, passing through the Kornati Islands.

Day 1: arrival at the port of Biograd: meeting the crew and shopping operation!
Day 2: Biograd - Vrgada - Island Zut, Bay Strunac
Day 3: Bay Strunac - Telascica Cliffs - Vrulje
Day 4: Vrulje - Bay Potkucina (Island Kakan)
Day 5: Bay Potkucina (Island Kakan) - Primošten
Day 6: Tatinja Bay (Island Šolta)
Day 7: arrival in Trogir and final evening together before the big goodbyes!

Sailing between these islands is like playing zigzag, tacking to get a feel for it (and strengthen the arms!) while enjoying every breeze. It also means facing impressive cliffs in certain natural parks, deserted coves, and picturesque port towns (with a special heart-throb for Trogir!).

The Day I Fell... on the Island of Zut!

But a week on a sailboat is not just about the sea! Anchored (when the boat is anchored) allows for the chance to explore the surroundings and engage in my favorite ritual: watching the sunset.

An opportunity for a beautiful walk to find a high vantage point... even if it requires improvising steps > (or > for that matter!). Our first hike will go down in history as everyone will remember the day I earned my nickname 'Terminator' when I fell... on the island of Zut!

Which goes to show, yes, the boat is dangerous... especially when stepping ashore!

Top 10 Highlights of the Week

The week was rich in laughter, relaxation, and emotions! Here's a little compilation of our best moments.

The cake competition between the two boats: a ruthless battle to determine who is the best boat baker!
Moments of contemplation of the sea from my favorite spot at the front of the boat
Moments of discussion between girls in the salon
The improbable Tai Chi lesson on the boat
The creation of a homemade chess set
The invention of the intimidation dance of the regatta: war cries in the rhythm of a bowline knot... Scary!
The first time we could turn off the engine and sail solely on the wind
The delicious meals and snacks prepared on board, such as homemade quesadillas and ice coffee
Stargazing from a small cove
The ritual of admiring the sunset

Overall Assessment: Great Success!

Strong Points

This trip has been rich on multiple levels. Humanly speaking, I met people with incredible life stories and rich cultural backgrounds: a Mongolian from Sweden, a Swiss returning from the United States, an Argentine living in Germany, a wandering Belgian, a Quebec native with nomadic desires...
Special mention for the quality of the lessons and their suitability for each person's levels (and desires): moments that were both friendly and studious, a successful challenge.
An ideal solution for those who are alone but do not wish to travel alone.
We were also impressed by the organization of this trip: the information provided before and during the stay was perfect, just like the spirit of camaraderie developed right from the booking, with access to a Facebook community to connect future > before departure, and later with the online sharing of vacation photos from each individual.
Special mention also for the sign-up form, which helps to define the type of traveler and everyone's expectations, in order to best allocate them across different boats to foster harmony on board.
Regarding the boat itself: nothing to complain about, it is just perfect!
I was also taken by Dominik's desire to offer > than what already exists on the market and to move away from the two broad trends usually found in vacations aboard a boat. Generally, on one side, there's the > atmosphere, where alcohol and noise take up all the space, and on the other, the serious sailing club, where technique and learning are the focus of the stay. Naleia is therefore neither one nor the other. It probably exists in the center of these trends, with a relaxed (but not drunken, or very moderately) atmosphere and the possibility to sail and learn without it overshadowing the other activities of the trip: namely swimming, reading, napping, walking, socializing... and just relaxing!

Weak Points

In the face of all this enthusiastic feedback, it is difficult to pinpoint weaknesses. They mainly depend on the crew and the skipper one ends up with. The team spirit is essential and requires everyone's goodwill.
The Croatian waters are not as rich in marine fauna and flora as I had hoped (perhaps this is also due to the contrast with the images of my past dives in Mexico that I keep in mind).
A slight downside: the language. In front of a crew gathered from all corners of the globe, English becomes the easiest solution for communication. On our boat, we mixed English, French, and Spanish; but speaking the language of Shakespeare is a significant asset for sailing with Naleia (and this right from the outset, as booking is also done in English).
Seasickness: no one experienced seasickness on board (to be honest, it was more challenging to adapt to land sickness at the end of the trip!), so no worries on that front, it generally goes very well!

So in summary, as our crew would say: >!

A Week in the Azure Blue of Croatia

We had a fantastic week aboard a sailboat from Naleia: a marine experience... and profoundly human. Meeting Dominik was also very enriching and refreshing: what a pleasure to be around someone who takes the means to live their dreams!

From Croatia, we have only seen a portion of its coast... but it's only a matter of time! Perhaps we will be tempted by a second trip with a Game Of Thrones theme...

And next year, Dominik plans to expand his Naleia project to other destinations, such as Greece... An adventure we would love to attempt next year!

For those not keen on the couchsurfing spirit and spending a vacation on a boat with strangers, but who wish to sail in Croatia with or without a skipper, you will find your happiness on the boat rental comparison site Beboats.

In partnership with Naleia.

To go further...

To travel with Naleia: the website

To continue reading about our other boat trips:

Traveling differently: crew member on a sailboat

Pénichette on the Canal du Midi: mystery along the water

Holidays on a barge on a canal: advice and feedback

Traveling differently: between trendy styles and commitment